Box Score CORALVILLE, IA — The University of Maryland volleyball team used success from the service line and an outstanding hitting performance to sweep Iowa, 3-0 (25-19, 25-8, 25-21), in its second match in a week against the Hawkeyes Saturday night at Xtream Arena.

With 42 kills in three sets, Maryland hit .337 for its best hitting percentage against a conference foe this season. On the other side of the net, Iowa was limited to a .109 hitting clip thanks to 39 digs and eight team blocks. Additionally, the Terps produced a season-high 12 service aces just a week after notching 11 against the Hawkeyes in College Park.
 
After falling behind by four points early in the first set, the Terps responded by outscoring the Hawkeyes 18-8 down the stretch to claim the opening set. Maryland never trailed in the second set, hitting .632 and closing the frame with a 17-2 run to take a 2-0 advantage.
 
Senior outside hitter Sam Csire led the offensive attack with 11 kills, receiving ample assistance from senior setter Sydney Dowler, who produced 32 assists in just three sets. Senior pin hitter Samantha Schnitta hit an efficient .769 with 10 kills on 13 attacks.

Defensively, freshman defensive specialist Jonna Spohn had a match-high nine digs while redshirt senior Anastasia Russ racked up five blocks. From the service line, Dowler and junior setter Erin Engel each tallied a season-best four service aces.
 
The Terps improved to 15-9 with a 5-7 Big Ten record, while the Hawkeyes dropped to 8-16 and continue the search for their first B1G victory with an 0-12 conference mark.
 
How It Happened
 
Set 1: Maryland 25 – Iowa 19

• Jonna Spohn opened the contest with a service ace.
• Maryland started the opening set with a 5-2 stretch powered by kills from Samantha Schnitta and Sam Csire.
• Four kills and a double block helped Iowa grab an 11-7 lead as part of a 5-0 run.
• The Terps pulled closer with a 4-2 run with a pair of Schnitta kills to cut the deficit to 13-11.
• A 6-1 run punctuated by an Eva Rohrbach solo block catapulted the Terps in front, 17-16. Maryland ultimately closed out the run with a service ace from Csire and a Laila Ivey kill to extend the lead to 19-16.
• After Iowa scored on back-to-back rallies, kills from Rohrbach and Anastasia Russ re-established the 21-18 advantage.
• Three consecutive Sydney Dowler service aces clinched the frame in favor of the Terps.
• The Terps hit .333 with 16 kills in the set. Csire led the charge with seven kills, while Schnitta recorded kills on all three of her swings.
• The Terps notched six service aces in the first set alone.

 
Set 2: Maryland 25 – Iowa 8

• Maryland never trailed in the second set, opening with an Anastasia Russ kill.
• A set-opening 4-2 run was punctuated by a Sam Csire service ace.
• The Terps blew open the set on a 9-2 run, making use of two Erin Engel service aces to go up 16-7.
• After Iowa scored a point, Maryland wrapped up the set on a 9-0 scoring run, recording five kills and a double block from Eva Rohrbach and Sydney Dowler to make quick work of the frame.
• In total, Maryland wrapped up the frame on a 17-2 run.
• The Terps hit .632 in the second set, recording 12 kills with no errors.
• Maryland produced four service aces in the stanza.

 
Set 3: Maryland 25 – Iowa 21

• Iowa opened the set with an 8-5 lead, but the Terps quickly turned the tables with a 6-0 run featuring Sydney Dowler's fourth service ace to take an 11-8 advantage.
• The Hawkeyes pulled within one at 14-13, but kills from Dowler, Sam Csire and Samantha Schnitta led to a 5-0 run as Maryland gained separation.
• Maryland closed the match out with a Schnitta kill, clinching the Terps' first road sweep of a Big Ten foe since October 2022.

Numbers to Know

• .750: Samantha Schnitta produced a highly-efficient hitting performance, hitting .750 with nine kills and no errors on 12 attacks.
• 4: Sydney Dowler and Erin Engel each served up a season-high four service aces.
• 8: The eight points allowed by the Terps in the second frame tied for the fewest allowed in a set this season, equaling Utah Valley's tally in the third set on Sept. 2.
• 11: Sam Csire led the way with 11 kills on a .440 hitting percentage with no errors. It is the 10th time this season Csire has led the Terps in putaways.
• 12: The team's 12 service aces are a season high and the team's most since recording the same amount against San Diego State on Sept. 9, 2022.
• 30: With 10 kills, Samantha Schnitta marked her 30th career outing with double-digit kills.
• 32: In just three sets, Dowler served up 32 assists for a 10.67 assists per set.

 
Up Next

• Maryland will embark on its second road trip in as many weekends on Friday, when the Terps head to East Lansing to take on Michigan State. The contest is slated to start at 7 p.m., and the match will stream on B1G+.